SAN FRANCISCO (Jan. 9, 2008)â€”The Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, has endorsed the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, a historic California ballot initiative that will greatly improve the lives of millions of farm animals.

Andrus presides over 27,000 Episcopalians in the Californian dioceses, which includes San Franciscoâ€™s Grace Cathedral. He gave his support for the initiative during a recent interview with The Humane Society of the United States.

"The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act is a modest but important measure that will simply give veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens enough room to engage in basic movements,â€ Andrus said. â€œGod entrusts animals to our care. Denying them the ability even to turn around is surely not an example of faithful stewardship."

Californians for Humane Farms, supported by The HSUS, Farm Sanctuary
and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and
public health professionals, is gathering signatures to place the
Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2008 ballot. The
measure prevent some of the worst factory farming abuses such as
keeping animals confined in small crates or cagesâ€”specifically, veal
crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation
crates for breeding pigs.

â€œBishop Andrusâ€™ endorsement is certain to inspire Episcopalians to take
notice of this measure, which all people of faith can support on the
basis of compassion and mercy towards all creatures,â€ said Christine
Gutleben, director of Animals & Religion for The HSUS.

Last year, San Francisco was ranked Americaâ€™s most humane large
metropolitan area, according to a study called the Humane
Index, released by The HSUS.